Christ's Return as the Latter Rain

by M.J. Agee

Christ said, "I have foretold you all things" in Mark 13:23.

The Sun Knoweth His Going Down

According to Malachi 4:2, Jesus is "the Sun of righteousness" that will arise with healing in his wings, and "the sun knoweth his going down" (Psalm 104:19). He is "the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8), "The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). It is inconceivable that as God, he would not know his own time of coming. He made the plans before time began.

Isaiah 44:6 reveals who he really is:

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

The Lord Jesus Christ, our redeemer, is both the "first," Lord of the Old Testament, and the "last," Lord of the New Testament. In Revelation 22:13, Jesus said,

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

In II Corinthians 5:18, we are told plainly that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." Colossians 1:15-19 explains that Christ

is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist....For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.

In Isaiah 46:9,10, he said,

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.

He Will Come as the Rain

The Bible is sprinkled with time clues. As far back as Deuteronomy, 11:14, Israel was given a promise. The Lord said,

I will give you the rain of your land in his due season (i.e., Christ's due season), the first rain and the latter rain.

Christ has two due seasons, and his two comings are as the former and latter rain. Hosea 5:15-6:3 help us to understand this. As chapter five ends, Christ is talking, then as the next chapter begins, we hear Israel speak.

I (Christ) will go and return to my place (Heaven), till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction (the Tribulation) they will seek me early. COME (says Israel), and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days (two 1,000-year days) will he revive us: in the third day (third millennium) he will raise up up, and we shall live in his sight (fulfilled to the letter in 1948). Then (after 1948) shall we know, if we follow on (i.e., past the Sign of the End of the Age in 1967) to know the LORD: his (the Lord's) going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

The Former and Latter Rain

Joel adds another clue, giving the time that both of these rains begin to fall in Israel. Chapter 2:23 says,

God...he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

In Scripture, when a month (lit., new moon) is given, the first day of that month is understood unless another day is given. Therefore this passage in Joel means the first day of the first month.

If you look up a Jewish calendar that lists the feasts and times of harvest, you will find that the Lord is keeping his promise concerning the former and latter rain in Israel. Those are such definite times that they are listed on their calendar. The former rain begins Tishri 1, and Jesus was born on Tishri 1. The latter rain begins on Nisan 1, and Christ will return on Nisan 1.

THE REGNAL YEAR

Ezekiel 29:17,21 cinches the date of Nisan 1. Verse 17 sets the date, "in the first month, in the first day of the month." Then verse 21 says,

In that day (Nisan 1) will I cause the horn (king) of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth (i.e., the logos) in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Nisan 1 is not only the first day of the Jewish Sacred Year, but the first day of their Regnal Year. Our Lord Jesus Christ will return as King of kings and Lord of lords on the same month and day of the month that all their other kings officially took office.